According to reports in The Mirror, West Bromwich Albion are ready to sell striker Salomon Rondon this summer.
The 27-year-old attracted a £32.2m bid from Chinese Super League club Tianjin Quanjian during the January transfer window, according to The Mirror, but the Baggies turned the offer down as manager Tony Pulis only had a small squad to work with during the second-half of the campaign.
However, the Venezuela international’s form suffered as a result and the report says that Pulis is ready to cash in on the unsettled centre-forward, who he signed from Zenit St Petersburg two years ago, if he receives an acceptable offer having signed Southampton forward Jay Rodriguez.
Meanwhile, Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez has suffered a frustrating time in the transfer window as he looks to strengthen his squad, and the Spaniard certainly may have been alerted to the availability of the striker ahead of the Magpies’ return to the Premier League.
Here are three reasons the Tyneside outfit should make a move for Rondon…
Goals
Sometimes players can struggle to adapt to Premier League football when they move from a foreign league, but Rondon has done pretty well considering he has been playing for a West Brom side that aren’t renowned for scoring lots of goals under Tony Pulis.
The 27-year-old scored an impressive nine times in 34 top flight matches in his debut season in England, and he looked set to better that total having netted seven before the turn of 2017 last term, including a hat-trick of headers against Swansea City.
However, the speculation over his future seem to affect Rondon and he only scored once more, but he has certainly shown that he is capable of finding the net at this level and that could attract the interest of Benitez.
Premier League experience
While Benitez will want to get good value for money when he is bringing new players to Newcastle this summer – the club are struggling to do that right now – the Spaniard will also be keen to sign players that are experienced at this level in order to ensure the club aren’t fighting a relegation battle next season.
Having played regularly for two years at this level, Rondon certainly knows the ins and outs of the Premier League and is used to battling away against the defenders that grace the English top flight.
That knowledge could be valuable as the Magpies look to avoid being involved in a fight at the wrong end of the table next term.
Different option
While Dwight Gayle was in outstanding form last season, the addition of Rondon would certainly give Newcastle a different option to work with.
The 27-year-old is big and strong in the air – he won 101 aerial duels in the top flight last season – and he has become accustomed to holding the ball up and bringing his teammates into play having featured in a lone striker role for much of his West Brom career.
As well as his height, which will also be useful when the Magpies are defending from set-pieces, the Venezuela international is also good with the ball at his feet and he successfully completed 27 take-ons in 38 Premier League appearances last term.
Do you agree, Magpies fans? Let us know below.
